Lockers for people experiencing homelessness will come before the Fort Collins City Council following outcry from advocates and despite staff recommendation against them.

The Fort Collins Mennonite Fellowship asked the city for about $10,500 to fund a 20-locker pilot program at its Old Town church, near Library Park. The lockers would be available 24 hours a day and seven days a week, with video surveillance and church staff coordinating their rentals.

City staff has recommended against funding the proposal. In a memo, Deputy City Manager Jeff Mihelich wrote that the proposal doesn't address many concerns raised in neighborhood meetings, including supervision. The memo cites other community locker programs that were shut down due to under-supervision and resulting safety concerns.

Advocates for the homeless protested outside City Hall ahead of Tuesday's City Council meeting with signs demanding the lockers. They also dominated the public comment period, sharing stories of individuals forced to choose between hiding backpacks containing all their worldly possessions and entering backpack-free grocery stores for food, or being stuck in blizzards and unable to access storage lockers open only during business hours at the Murphy Center.

It had an impact. The City Council asked for a fuller discussion — and in a setting that would give people opposed to the proposal a chance to voice their concerns — at its Feb. 6 meeting. It would also open the door to possible action or further study.

Council member Bob Overbeck, whose northeast district includes the Fellowship, said he had heard community concerns about the locker project but also "sincere" need.

"Has anyone presented an area, town or community that has done this project right? I haven't seen that yet and I need to see more," Overbeck said, adding that he could support the city spending more than the $10,500 to make sure the project is done right.

Overbeck named efforts in San Diego, California, and Vancouver, Washington, as ones to look at specifically.

Fort Collins Homeless Coalition advocate Cheryl Distaso said she took the council's action as promising and a sign that there could be support for the locker program.

Mennonite Pastor Steve Ramer was less patient. In a fiery speech to the council during public comment, he noted the church's longtime role helping people experiencing homelessness, including opening its doors as a place for people to stay warm during cold weather. If not for money, the church is ready to install lockers now.

"It's a pilot project, as you know," Ramer said during public comment. "I don't see the danger in trying it. How will we know if it works? Maybe it hasn't been tried anywhere else ... We can try it and see if it works."

He also batted away safety concerns. Ramer noted that ATMs don't have 24-hour security guards but they hold much more value than the lockers.

Cell tower gets final OK

The City Council unanimously approved a cell tower for northeast Fort Collins on second reading, with some additional conditions.

The most contentious condition concerned how long it could be inactive before the city stipulated the tower be removed. Staff recommended six months, while the applicants asked for a year. Council member Gerry Horak suggested nine months, earning a compliment from council member Ross Cunniff for "threading the needle" on the debate.

The tower is limited to 45 feet in height and would be disguised as a silo. It will be built on property between Country Club Road and Mountain Vista Drive just east of Long Pond Reservoir.